A N ewsletter for Veterans R esi ding Abr oad

VA OCONUS Connection
A Newsletter for Veterans Residing Abroad

Issue Number Five | April 2018

From the Director's Desk

We continue to get great feedback to VA OCONUS Connection! The
consistent message is that you want more tips and helpful information on
filing claims. I hear this same request from Veterans in and around
Pittsburgh. There is a lot of information from VA, Veteran Service
Organizations, and other sources that can be overwhelming. VA has a
YouTube Channel to help provide information about available benefits
and our modernization efforts. Check out these helpful videos about
what to expect at a VA
examination: https://www.youtube.com/user/vavetbenefits/videos?disable_polymer=1

I also wanted to highlight some of the significant changes made to the Post-9/11 GI Bill by
the “Forever GI Bill” act. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is now a life time benefit with no 15-year
limit. VA has notified over half a million beneficiaries that they may no longer have a
delimited date to use this benefit. If you have any questions about how this impacts your
entitlement, please go to https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ for more information.

Veterans Residing in the Philippines

U.S. Veterans who live in the Philippines are entitled to certain VA benefits. Veterans can
visit the VA Manila Regional Benefit Office and the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic for benefit
assistance and information about available services in the clinic.

VA Manila Outpatient Clinic:

We have attached the 2018 VA Manila Benefits Fact Sheet of all the eligibility requirements
for healthcare.
Important Points

 The eligibility requirements for medical services are different for Veterans outside
the U.S. than for Veterans within the U.S. The VA Manila Outpatient Clinic and
Foreign Medical Program (FMP) provides medical care for U.S. Veterans only for a
 VA-rated service-connected disability, or any disability associated with and held to
be aggravating a VA-rated, service-connected disability (38 CFR 17.35).
 A service-connected U.S Veteran may be treated for non-service connected
disabilities within the limits of the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic, as stated in 38
U.S.C. § 1724(e). Follow up services and medications required for non-service
connected conditions will be the Veteran’s responsibility, including obtaining
services and paying all related cost.
 U.S. Veterans are responsible for the entire cost of treatment for non-service
connected disabilities when care is provided by non-VA care provider(s) and/or
non-VA medical facility.

VA Manila Regional Office

The VA Manila Regional Office is co-located with the VA Outpatient Clinic. Some services
such as home loans, life insurance and education benefits for Veterans have been
specialized at certain locations in the U.S. The Regional Office can receive
claims regarding these services, but they will be routed to the appropriate location.

VA benefits and services offered at the Manila Regional Office:

 Compensation: This is based on disabilities or certain diseases recognized as due

to the Veteran’s military service.
 Pension: Paid to wartime veterans who must meet certain criteria for service,
income and permanent and total disability/ies, or Veterans over the age 65
 Vocational rehabilitation and employment
 Dependents and survivors benefits (to include education and training)
 Burial benefits

Any questions regarding the Manila Regional Office can also be sent to
VAMANILA.VBAMPI@va.gov.

2018 VA Manila Benefits Fact Sheet

Why Does VA Require Multiple Exams to Determine
Compensation Awards?
Although each claim has different requirements, often, we do require several exams for our
Veterans that reside in the United States, as well as overseas. Typically, if we are
requesting multiple exams, there are usually multiple conditions that require separate
exams. Traditionally, if we are requesting several exams for one condition, we have
received new evidence or our Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) requires
clarification from a provider regarding the previously conducted exams. The more
information we have from the medical providers, the better evaluation we can provide to our
Veterans, so it is in the best interest of the Veteran to attend all exams that we have
requested.

Are Veterans Residing Overseas able to Participate

in the Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment (VR&E) Program?
The VR&E Chapter 31 program is available to Veterans residing overseas. To meet the
criteria for VR&E overseas, a Veteran must have legal residence in a foreign area. In order
to meet this criteria, a Veteran must have one of the following: Veteran has accepted
employment overseas, Veteran is married to a foreign national, Veteran is the spouse of an
active duty Servicemember who is assigned overseas, or the Veteran is accompanying
his/her spouse who is employed overseas.

If a Veteran meets any of the above criteria, he/she may complete and submit a VA form
28-1900, Application for Vocational Rehabilitation. This application may be completed
online via eBenefits. Once this application has been received and processed, the
Pittsburgh VR&E will reach out to the Veteran for initial contact via email regarding the
VR&E application and will provide documents for the Veteran’s completion to assist in the
eligibility and entitlement process for VR&E services. The Veteran will then work with a
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) who will conduct a comprehensive evaluation
and entitlement determination for the VR&E program. The VRC will also work closely with
the Veteran with vocational exploration efforts in order to identify a suitable career goal that
will match the Veteran’s interests and aptitudes and will be employable in the area for
which the Veteran resides.

A rehabilitation plan will be developed, which will outline the Veteran’s selected career goal
and objectives to achieve this goal. The VR&E program will cover all of the required tuition,
fees, books, and supplies associated with the Veteran’s program of study. The Veteran will
receive a subsistence allowance that will assist him/her with living expenses while
participating in training. If eligible, the Veteran may elect to receive this subsistence
allowance at the Post 911 Rate of Pay. In addition to the monetary support, the Veteran will
receive case management, follow up counseling, employment assistance, and oversight to
facilitate the successful completion of this plan.

Should you have any additional questions regarding the VR&E program overseas, please
contact the Pittsburgh VR&E Division at 412-395-6070.
Get to Know Your VA Team: Nicholas Boyko,
Change Management Agent (CMA)

Nick Boyko currently serves as the Pittsburgh Regional

Office's Change Management Agent/Public Affairs Officer
and assists the Regional Office Director and her staff with
Transformation and Modernization initiatives in the Regional
Office. Nick served from 1999-2007 in the United States
Marine Corps where he completed a deployment in 2005 to
the Anbar Province of Western Iraq. After service, Nick
finished his degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,
and joined the VA Regional Office team in 2009.

Why did you choose to work for VA? I chose to work for
the VA Regional Office after finishing college and missing
the connection that I had with military members during my 8
years in the Marine Corps.

What advice can you offer to OCONUS Veterans? The best advice I can give to
Veterans outside the continental US is, if you have any questions, ask an expert. VBA is
easy to reach whether using IRIS, eBenefits, or by contacting the dedicated foreign phone
line 1-(412) 395-6272.

What kind of duties do you perform? What kind of service do you provide? As Public
Affairs Officer and Change Management Agent, one of my responsibilities is to create and
execute change management strategies to RO employees. With that being said, I help to
educate and follow up with RO employees and leadership on different software updates
and procedures that are passed down from VA Central Office.

Any tips that you have for Veterans filing claims OCONUS? Most VA benefits are
payable regardless of your place of residence or nationality and to find out details about
these benefits, the following link is very
helpful: https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-abroad.asp

What do you want Veterans to know about VA benefits? If a Veteran has a general
benefits question or needs assistance, it is easy to reach us by using the following:

For general benefit questions and assistance:

 Call us at (412) 395-6272 from 8:00am to 9:00pm, Eastern Standard Time,

Monday through Friday.
 Send us an email using the VA Inquiry Routing and Information System.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is an annual campaign in April to raise public
awareness about sexual assault. In its campaign, VA focuses on sexual assault and sexual
harassment occurring during military service – also known as “military sexual trauma” or
“MST.” VA offers many services to help MST survivors. If you have questions about filing
a claim for VA benefits related to MST, one of our MST coordinators can help:
Susan.eshleman@va.gov or Jamie.Anderson@va.gov. Please find more information
here: https://www.vets.gov/health-care/health-conditions/military-sexual-trauma/

What is eBenefits?
Enrolling in eBenefits is easy. Just visit www.eBenefits.va.gov

for more information. If you submit a claim in the future,

consider filing through eBenefits. Filing electronically,
especially if you participate in our fully developed claim
program, may result in a faster decision than if you submit
your claim through the mail.

How to get an eBenefits account

You can manage and apply for benefits online using eBenefits. If you don’t already have an
eBenefits account, you can register on the DS Logon Registration page. Instead of using
your APO address for registering on eBenefits, use your last recorded United States
address.

For dependents of Veterans without a social security number, you must do the following:

Contact the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) at 1-800-538-9552.

 Provide your dependent's Foreign ID number.

 Obtain a generated social security number provided by DMDC.
 Use the generated social security number for registration in eBenefits. You can
visit the eBenefits help page for assistance with registering for an account or you
can call 1-800 372-7437.

Foreign Medical Program (FMP)

The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health
care benefits program for U.S. Veterans who are residing or traveling abroad and have VA-
rated, service-connected disabilities. Under FMP, VA assumes payment responsibility for
certain necessary health care services received in foreign countries and associated with
the treatment of service-connected disabilities, or any disability associated with and held to
be aggravating a service-connected condition. Additionally, VA may authorize necessary
foreign medical services for any condition for a Veteran participating in the VA Vocational
Rehabilitation Program (38 U.S.C. 31). For more information, to include submitting claims
for reimbursement, please visit here.

Veterans Crisis Line

Crisis feels different for everybody and can be caused by a wide range of situations before,
during, or after military service. Whatever’s got you down — chronic pain, anxiety,
depression, sleeplessness, anger, or even disturbing memories of your tour of duty — a
Crisis Line responder can provide support, day or night.

The Military Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified responders from VA — some of whom
have served in the military themselves. They understand what Servicemembers and
Veterans have been through and the challenges members of the military and their loved
ones face.

The Military Crisis Line staff can connect you with services to help get your life back on
track.

Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through
the Military Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), online chat and text (838255).

There are a number of ways individuals can reach VCL. How they reach the VCL overseas
is dependent on location. You can visit this link to see how Veterans, Service members or
their loved ones can reach VCL from Europe, Korea and Afghanistan.

 In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118 *

 In Korea call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118
 In Afghanistan call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111

* In Europe, toll-free service may not be available through all carriers or in all countries

In addition, as you mentioned, the online chat feature is available anywhere as well as text
but note, the text function would probably include additional data charges depending on
your carrier roaming and international charges.

How to Contact VA

Since most Veterans residing in foreign countries cannot utilize the 1-800-827-1000
number to contact VA, a separate phone line was established for inquiries from Foreign
Veterans. Like the 1-800 number, this phone line is staffed by the National Call
Center. How to Contact VA from Outside the United States: 1-412-395-6272.

Contact Information for Benefits Delivery at Discharge Offices in Germany and

Korea:

The Landstuhl, Germany office is located in building 3724 at Landstuhl Regional Medical
Center and can be reached by e-mail at GermanyBDD.vbapit@va.gov or by telephone at
06371-9464-8200.

The Seoul, South Korea office is located in building 4037 on USAG Yongsan and can be
reached by email at KoreaBDD.vbapit@va.gov or by telephone at 02-7918-5121.

Help us Spread the Word!

Please encourage Veterans residing abroad with whom you come in contact to subscribe to
“Veterans Abroad” to receive bulletins and information specific to Veterans residing
abroad. Veterans may subscribe to the email service by clicking here .
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